Browsing by Author "Buke, Mercy"

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    Sand Harvesting and Its Social Economic and Environmental Effects on Household’s Livelihoods in Homabay County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2023) Buke, Mercy
    Sand harvesting is an economic activity that has social, economic, and environmental effects on people's lives. The magnitude of the effects varies from place to place based on the prevailing circumstances in such places. This study, therefore, sought to find out the socio-economic and environmental effects of sand harvesting on residents of Homa-Bay County. Subsequently, the key objective of this study was to explore sand harvesting and it’s social, economic and environmental effects on household’s livelihoods in Kobala sub-location in Homabay County. The findings of the study are instrumental in creating public awareness of the sustainable way of managing these socio-economic effects and improving the standards of living of Kobala residents. This study was guided by the Local Economic Development Theory and Driving Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) model. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and used questionnaires and key informant interviews as the instruments of data collection. Using Yamane formula, the study sampled 370 respondents from the residents of the Kobala sub-location. Purposively, 15 key informants were selected; ten residents of Kobala engaging in sand harvesting activities and five NEMA officials of Homabay County. Data from questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics while thematic analysis was used to analyze and report data from key informant interviews. The findings of the study revealed that sand harvesting in the Kobala sub-location has had negative social effects on the residents by increasing the rate of education wastage among teens, an increase in domestic violence, an increase in prostitution which has, in turn, increased the HIV/AIDS burden in the area. Further, the findings have established that the cost of treatment for the residents has risen due to increased mosquitos breeding in open valleys as well as in the management of waterborne diseases. The net economic effect of sand harvesting has been established to have been overshadowed by the negative social effects of the activities in the area. The study therefore, recommends that mitigation measures be taken to tame the negative social effects of sand harvesting by ensuring that teens are not allowed to participate in sand harvesting activities to avoid education wastage as well as the need to institute conflict mitigation measures in ensuring that tensions arising from land use are amicably addressed. The NEMA officials need to work closely with the local administration in addressing issues of increased health management costs resulting from sand mining activities by developing policies that would help reduce the gaping valleys that trap water for mosquito breeding and the chances for the spread of waterborne diseases.